More help promised for victims of crime

A Criminal Defence Service Bill aims to bring criminal legal aid costs under control. Magistrates' courts currently grant criminal legal aid to defendants but the Bill will transfer the responsibility to the Legal Services Commission.

The Department for Constitutional Affairs said the reforms could save up to £50 million on a total budget of £1.1 billion. "Better supervision of the granting of legal aid for representation would help control expenditure and provide more consistency in the awarding of aid," said a spokesman.

Defendants or solicitors could ask judges to intervene if they felt the commission's decision to refuse aid was unfair, he added.

Also, a Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill will create an independent Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses to provide better support. There will also be a code of practice bringing in new requirements for the police, prosecutors and courts.

Domestic violence claims the lives of two women every week - their deaths making up a quarter of all murders in Britain.

Statutory rights for victims?

A Victim Support spokesman said: "We welcome the creation of a post of commissioner to speak up for the interests of victims and witnesses of crime.

"In order to be as effective as possible, we believe the commissioner should have the power to require all government departments, including those responsible for health and housing for example, to have pro-victim and witness policies and procedures, and be independent and open."

However, he added: "We are surprised that there was no reference in the Queen's Speech to the introduction of statutory rights for victims of crime which were promised in the Government's recently published strategy.

"Victim Support has long campaigned for statutory rights for victims of crime and we hope that this remains on the legislative agenda, despite not being highlighted today."

'Rag bag collection'

Shadow home secretary David Davis dismissed the Home Office's package of Bills as a "rag-bag collection" and the idea of a Commissioner for Victims as a "typically meaningless Blunkett initiative".

"Whilst some aspects of this speech will be welcome there is little in this rag-bag collection of Bills that will actually bring down the appalling levels of crime and disorder in Britain,'' said Mr Davis.

"The British people have been let down by a speech which fails to provide any meaningful or practical measures to tackle crime. The public will resent the fact that the Government have come up with no measures to tackle crime."

On the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill, he said: "We have always been clear that we welcome new legislation on domestic violence. Domestic violence is an appalling crime, which often remains hidden behind closed doors.

"We will work constructively with the Government to introduce effective legislation to protect victims of domestic violence."

Angie Bell